cottage and vine

Chic & Affordable Accessories

2013-05-22T08:45:00.002-04:00

I'm excited to share today's affordable finds series! Each item comes from a delightful little store, Furbish, located just down the road from me in Raleigh, NC. Furbish is a favorite spot for those unique pieces that complete a room. Enjoy!

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By the way, Furbish is having a Memorial Day Sale (on-line only).

Use code LONGWEEKEND to receive 15% off your order, good through Monday 27th.

Kitchen Soffit Solutions

2013-05-21T07:32:00.000-04:00

Every time I look at this post, (I cringe) my eyes go right to the unfortunate soffit that rests above our kitchen cabinets. Even worse is the unfortunate vent cover! I recently had the honor of helping a family plan a kitchen in their new custom home. The experience has my wheels turning about what to do above the kitchen cabinets. If you have an open space above your cabinets, you might enjoy this post that I wrote a while back. But, if you are like me and have that awkward soffit that chops up the visual lines of the kitchen, you might find something here to consider.

To further throw my own kitchen under the bus, here is the soffit I am referring to.

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This example shows how treating the space as one unit by painting it and adding a variety of moldings can create a greater visual impact.

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Here is another example with a simpler trim detail.

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Here is a great example of cabinets that are recessed with the soffit extending past the line of the cabinets. The molding detail blends it all perfectly.

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In this example, I'm not sure whether there is a soffit or if the molding was added to eliminate the potentially awkward gap that would exist without the molding, but either way bravo!

So what do you think? Hide the soffit or embrace it?

DIY Espalier

2013-05-20T09:04:00.001-04:00

For the longest time, I have wanted to add a vine to our fence that separates our back yard from our neighbors. The bed in front of the fence is filled with hydrangeas, flowering perennials, and edged with boxwood. We love spending our time on the patio beside the garden and try to do all we can to make this tiny space extra special. It is all about the details after all. I've been saving images of pretty vines trained to climb walls and over the weekend we finally tackled this project (we meaning Mr.). Not sure why it took us so long because it literally took us 10-15 minutes!

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After lots of conversation and research on vines, we decided to go with teardrop ivy. There are so many vines that can be trained this way, but for our space/lighting/zone, etc. this seemed to be the way to go.

We went with a "two x" pattern. Mr. screwed three screws across the bottom and three across the top, equidistant from each other.

We happened to have copper wire on hand for the trellis.

It was super bendable and easy enough to twist around the screws to secure it into place.

It is hard to see, but here is the pattern. We may go back and add to this for more visual impact.

We looked for plants that had long tendrils to get a jump start on the training process.

I will be sure to post more pictures once our espalier is established. Fingers crossed it grows fast!

This girl was itching to get in the garden and help which is a no-no ;). #bullinachinashop

Chic Striped Summer Bags & Totes

2013-05-15T07:07:00.000-04:00

It's no secret that I have a thing for stripes.

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So it would be safe to say that I also have a thing for striped bags -- especially when summer rolls around. Here is a fun round-up of striped bags & totes. Enjoy!

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E-Design: Dining Room/Living Room

2013-05-14T08:01:00.000-04:00

Thank you for the kind words many of you left yesterday. Your support means so much! Mom is doing very well and is beginning to sound like her old self again.

I wanted to give you a little peek at an E-Design I recently finished for a client living in Michigan. The space is an open floor plan that includes a dining room and living room. The client had furniture and wall color in place and just needed help finishing details like lighting, rugs, pillows, and art. In other words, the fun stuff.

Her rooms were already neutral and needed a splash of color. Once I found the large piece of art to go behind her sectional, the other details started falling into place. She was so excited when she received the plan and immediately began shopping. I love a happy client!

Do you need help putting the finishing touches on your space? I now offer a per question service for clients who only have a question or two. For more information email me.

A Weekend Re-Cap

2013-05-13T07:35:00.000-04:00

Wow! What a weekend! I try not to share every detail of my life with you all. Mostly because it just isn't that exciting and I figure that isn't why you come here. I do enjoy blogs where you get to know a little more about the writers and their families and many know how to strike that balance perfectly without sharing too much or too little. I guess I'm saying all of this to let you know about Mom.

Last Wednesday she underwent hip replacement surgery and is in the process of learning to walk again. She is doing great and was able to go home Saturday - in time for Mother's Day. As with any surgery, there is a certain recovery period before you reach your "new normal". Even though she is doing great, I would be lying if I said that it isn't hard seeing her like this. Mom has always been the giving one, the one who does special things for each and every family member and never wants anything in return. We tried to make yesterday as special as possible, but I really wish we could give her the ability to walk around her beautiful garden that she enjoys more than anything. I know in time, she will be active again because Mom is very determined to do what it takes to heal as quickly as possible. She is in good hands too - love you Mom & Darrell.

In addition to celebrating Mr.'s birthday on Saturday, we also enjoyed middle school LAX playoffs. What a treat to watch an amazing group of boys play their hearts out for the victory!

My boys were super sweet to me this weekend. I can honestly say that I am honored to be their mother. They make me proud in the choices they make, the examples they set for others, and the incredible young men they are becoming. Tyler and Parker, I love you more than you know!

P.S. I mentioned this cake last week and wanted to let you know that it is yummy!

Friday Link Love

2013-05-10T06:58:00.002-04:00

Happy Friday!!! There's so much to love this week! The sun is finally shining, the flowers are beginning to bloom, and the end of the school year is nearing. I'm looking forward to a weekend filled with birthday celebrations and Mother's Day.

Here are my favorite links this week. Enjoy!

1. This lovely bedroom makeover from Amber Interiors.

2. This strawberry cake recipe from Nothing But Delicious. We plan to pick strawberries this weekend. Sounds like the perfect cake for a weekend of celebrations to me!

3. New Designs with Cote de Texas. Ashley Goforth is one of my all time favorite designers. So you can just imagine how excited I was to see this post. If you would like to see the rest of her portfolio, you can do so here.

4. Gwenyth's juice with Savor Home. Our new juicer arrived this week and this was the first recipe we tried. We are hooked!

5. This quote made me laugh when I saw it. I think we can all agree - men & women - sooner or later, we all quote our mothers. I know I do.

Enjoy your weekend! And if you're a mother, Happy Mother's Day to you!

Six Ways to Improve Curb Appeal

2013-05-09T03:00:00.000-04:00

As I mentioned yesterday, when spring finally arrives I spend a lot of time outside, in and around my neighborhood. I'm a little obsessed with curb appeal -- what works as well as what doesn't. There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to sprucing up your front porch, exterior, and yard. But, there are a few things to keep in mind.

1. Keep it simple. It is important for your exterior to tell a bit about the person/people who live inside, but leave a little to the imagine. What to put on the front porch? A container or two planted with evergreens is a timeless choice. I also like cast iron plant, ferns, rosemary, sky pencil holly -- I could go on and on. Seasonal flowers work well here too. Just use caution when choosing colors. Red geraniums might clash with your pink door -- unless you plan to hang a "BE MINE" poster on your front porch too ;). A simple color palette is usually a good idea and by all means limit statuary and tchotchkes please. Less really is more.

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2. Paint your front door. A fresh color on your front door is one of the easiest and most economical ways to freshen your home's appearance. It is always a good idea to keep all exterior colors in mind when choosing a front door color. This includes the roof, shutters, exterior walls and trim as well as flowering plants. And whatever you do, if you have a storm door, please paint it the same color as the front door. A white storm door over a red front door ~~almost~~ never looks good.

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3. Make sure your lighting is to scale. I repeat. Make sure your lighting is to scale. It can do wonders for your home! This guide shows us how to find the right scale for a pair of lights flanking the front door as well as what to do when you have a single light.

P.S. Please use real, incandescent lights in your outdoor lights - not the aquarium type. Fish tank lights do nothing for curb appeal. Seriously.

4. Create beds for shady lawns where grass will not grow. If you have large trees in your yard, then you know how challenging it can be to get grass to grow around the roots that sometimes extend several yards from the base of the tree. Instead of fighting it, incorporate beds filled with shrubs and ground covers that thrive in the shade. I especially love flowing beds with sweeping paths of grass or walkways in between.

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5. Add a vine. Vines are a great way to soften an entrance, but an even better way to tone down a prominent garage. Your best bet is to check with your local garden shop to see which vine is best for your yard/zone.

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6. Other obvious ways to add curb appeal include house numbers, door hardware, and door mats. See my post from yesterday for more inspiration.

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Four Porches, Four Styles,

2013-05-08T03:00:00.000-04:00

Although many of my friends in the Midwest are still dealing with snow, the rest of us are beginning to focus our attention on the outdoors. Spring always makes me want to freshen things up in the garden and create a welcoming entry for visitors. Here are four front porch combinations that I pulled together with four distinctly different styles. I hope you find something that inspires you.

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So tell me, what's your style? Sometimes mine is a little of everything ;).

Be sure to stop by tomorrow to read my tips on giving your home added curb appeal.

Photographs: Famous People in Decor

2013-05-07T07:28:00.000-04:00

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The other day I texted the last image to our oldest child knowing what his reaction would be. Of course it was, "Yes please". This video has played in our house more times than the daily news and he can recite the the motivational speeches by heart. You might think that is kinda weird, but I say, whatever motivates you sweetie. It got me thinking about the famous faces we often see in decor - not posters taped to walls, but images thoughtfully incorporated in the design. I think there is a place for it. Do you?

Better yet, if you were going to hang a picture of a famous person (style icon, political figure, or athlete) in your home, who would it be?

Revamp Your Kitchen With Home Depot

2013-05-06T05:00:00.000-04:00

Lately Mr. and I have been dreaming of taking the granite and bead board back splash off and replacing it with white subway tile. I believe it would really lighten up our little kitchen. Also on our radar is refacing the cabinet doors. Have you seen the Martha Stewart cabinets at Home Depot? The shaker style is my favorite and quite budget friendly I might add. Home Depot has lots of affordable ways to update your kitchen. Hardware, counter tops, and cabinet resurfacing only scratch the surface.

Be sure to check out the video below and see why Home depot is my go-to place for Home Improvement.

Mother's Day Gifts on Etsy

2013-05-01T07:18:00.001-04:00

Mother's Day is right around the corner so I've put together some goodies from Etsy that might brighten a mama's day. Etsy is such a fun place to shop. There truly is something for everybody there! I hope you find something either for yourself or for that special mom in your life.

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How to Use Clips to Create Pinch Pleats

2013-04-30T07:38:00.002-04:00

Most designers recommend custom drapery. If it fits the budget, I say go for it. However, if your budget requires you to pick your spots then do what you have to. Not so long ago I shared a tutorial for adding a custom look to store bought panels. Emily Henderson has a great post about low cost draperies, by the way. You can find the link to it along with some other window treatment details on my window treatments pin board.

I love the look of pinch pleat curtains and often use clips instead of sewing. It is really easy to fake it and looks much better than clipping the panels to the top of the curtains.

Not to insult your intelligence, but here is how I do it. I'm sharing this because it took me a while to achieve a consistent pinch.

The fabric is gathered in the back and clipped. I wanted a two finger pinch which requires three creases on the back and creates two creases on the front.

As far as spacing, I've tried to do the math and sometimes come up a little short at one end or the other. So I just play with it until it looks right.

This way you do not see the clips at all only the rings. If you want a fuller panel just use two panels on each side instead of one.

Garden Inspiration: Creeping Fig

2013-04-29T09:21:00.000-04:00

Lately I've been focused on our garden and the tiniest details that make a big difference. Creeping fig is on my radar and actually has been for years. My local garden shop plans to get some in and my name is on the waiting list. My plan is to plant some on each side of our front entrance to cover the risers on our steps. I have read that you should only use it on masonry and never on wood surfaces. The area where I plan to use it is really small and quite manageable should the vine have invasive tendencies. I'll be sure to post pictures as soon as possible, but until then I thought you might enjoy some pretty garden inspiration.

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In other news, we installed new shutters over the weekend. I'm so excited to share pictures with you, but the weather isn't co-operating today.

Friday Link Love

2013-04-26T07:53:00.000-04:00

Dear Friday, where have you been all week? -- me

Happy Friday everybody! I hope you have something special planned this weekend. And may you have time to enjoy the simple moments that mean so much. Here are my short & sweet loved links this week. Enjoy!

1. DIY Orchid & Succulent Arrangement - with Amanda Carol

2. Master Bedroom Makeover with Blue Label Bungalow

3. Elements of Style in BHG

4. Hanna Seabrook's Home Tour with Glitter Guide

5. Our Early Spring Garden with Tone on Tone

6. Louisiana Kitchen Before & After with Holly Mathis

What are you loving this week?

Randy McManus Designs

2013-04-25T07:55:00.000-04:00

The other day I stopped by one of my favorite local shops, Randy McManus Designs. I hadn't been to the new location and was anxious to check it out. The store offers floral design, gifts, decor, and more. If you are ever in High Point for market it is worth the short 20 minute drive. (Located close to Proximity & O'Henry hotels if that helps).

Over the years, this has become one of my favorite stores! What's inside really hasn't changed that much, but it is the way everything is presented that keeps me coming back.

Kalanchoes all bundled up in little to-go baskets complete with handles and ribbon - who would've thought?

Blue and white will always rank high on my list - especially when you add white hyacinth.

I absolutely must make ~~a terrarium~~ terrariums! I think the more the merrier. The addition of driftwood is really nice too.

The attention to detail is what makes all the difference! We should all purchase a few branches of pussy willow to prop our orchids. So much prettier than the usual plastic stick. A little bundle of Spanish moss secured with raffia is always better than the little chip clip, no?

How about a DIY project for your deck or patio? Take a log, hollow it out, and fill with wax & wick.

So many great accessories too!

Mr. couldn't resist picking up a few hydrangeas.

If you are planning a wedding or just enjoy seeing pretty photos, you might want to visit Randy's blog. It will not disappoint.

Affordable Finds: Colorful Spring Pillows

2013-04-24T05:00:00.000-04:00

Pillows are so easy to switch out with the changing seasons. Heck, who needs a change in season to plop down something pretty that makes a room come to life? I've done some searching for you and came up with a few fun spring contenders that will lighten and brighten any room. In case that's what you have in mind. Each pillow is under $40 so you can spend the money you are saving on shoes ;). The bonus is that you could pick just about any three of these and have a fun combo! Enjoy!

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My Spring Mantel

2013-04-23T07:51:00.000-04:00

As I transition our house into a fresh summer cottage, I wanted to bring some green and natural elements into our family room. I've never really liked a loaded down, fussy mantel, but I did want ours to have a little more going on than usual.

We cleaned the ashes out of the fireplace for the last time the other day. Although a fire would've been nice the last day or two. Brrr. A while back, our neighbor lost a limb on her river birch and you know me. I rushed down to rescue it. She wasn't sure what I was using it for, but gave me a thumbs up anyway. I love a birch log in a fireplace! Thank you Julie :). The driftwood is from our walks along the New River. Can't wait to get up there soon! It is nice to have a little reminder there on the mantel.

If you've been here longer than five minutes you've most likely seen these boxwood orbs before. If you ever see them, grab them! They are the most versatile accessory I own. No matter where I place them they look great! The flowers are viburnum. Some people call them snowball bush. If we had room in our yard, I would plant one just for the beautiful bouquets. I should probably thank my friends at Kirklands for the wonderful lanterns. I have a feeling you will be seeing more of them when summer comes.

Slip Covered Dining Chairs

2013-04-22T07:54:00.000-04:00

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And just like that I'm ready to kick our black and white striped dining chairs to the curb in favor of some pretty slip covered numbers. We have more legs going on in the dining room than project runway and slips would take care of that! Still to decide: all matching chairs or accent chairs at the head, trim or no trim? Hmm...we shall see. But first I need to get rid of the old ones. Mr. doesn't know about this yet, but he will soon. He reads the blog every day. He's usually good with my decisions I'll just promise to make him a meatloaf or something ;).

Friday Link Love

2013-04-19T07:47:00.001-04:00

Happy Friday! Here's what I'm loving this week. Enjoy!

1. A Beautiful Kitchen Before & After with Delightful Design. I love that Abby says it like it is. Don't try and "trick out" your tile back splash. Simple is always better - especially long term.

2. A Little Styling with Milk & Honey Home. These ladies are good, really good!

3. Terrariums with Most Lovely Things. When I was a little girl, my parents would take me on walks in the woods where we would gather woodland plants to make terrariums. I really want to do this again.

4. Chicken, Bacon, & Avocado Chopped Salad. Mr. and I have become cobb salad addicts. This salad looks like it will cut to the chase - skip the lettuce, just give me the good stuff!

5. In the wake of the horrific events this week, this quote is appropriate.

6. Lemon Buttermilk Pancakes. These scrumptious little babies are on my "to-eat" list this weekend.

7. Facebook Apps Guide with Breanna Rose. This is something bloggers will appreciate - a great tutorial for spiffing up your facebook page.

Have a great weekend everybody!

My Experience With Overstock

2013-04-18T06:48:00.001-04:00

During the winter we made a few changes around our house. The rug we were using in the living room was too small and the wing back chairs needed to be updated or replaced. The rug moved to another room and the chairs moved upstairs for the time being. We explored lots of options for their replacements, but finally decided to try Overstock. (By the way, no one paid me to post this.)

We ordered this rug and these chairs and never once looked back. I will say that I read each and every review carefully before making my final decision.

The chairs, are the perfect scale for our small-scale living room. They are also very comfortable to everyone in the family - our heights range from 5'7" - 6'. I'm crazy about the tufting, the nail head trim, and the gorgeous castor fitted legs! The only thing, and this really isn't a deal breaker for me, is the seam that runs down the side of the chair. I would love it if it was a solid piece of fabric rather than pieced. Again, not a deal breaker.

Delivery was super fast. If you're like me, once you make a decision to order something on-line, you want it to arrive the next day! I ordered the chairs on a Sunday evening and they arrived by Thursday - free shipping! Would I buy them again? Absolutely!

We wanted a natural fiber rug for our living room - preferably something in the sisal family. I really wanted one with chunky texture, but we often go barefoot and like to sit on the floor from time to time. The Ballard rug peaked my curiosity, but I've heard several other bloggers say that it wasn't soft enough under foot so that wouldn't work.

We chose this rug in 9 x 13 and love it! It is soft, has the texture we wanted, and the size is perfect for our living room. The only down side is that it shed a bit in the beginning. Regular vacuuming helps. It also slips around if you do not use a rug pad - so a pad is recommended. Would I purchase it again? YES!

In other news, I recently purchased a swim suit from Overstock and sent it back. Probably can't blame that on Overstock though ;). Do you shop on Overstock?

Chic & Colorful Rugs Under $200

2013-04-17T06:58:00.002-04:00

There are so many ways to lighten & brighten your home for the spring & summer months. I love bringing in new pillows, rolling up and storing stuffy rugs, and moving most of the house plants outside leaving the rooms a little on the sparse side. The extra breathing room is nice and it makes the house feel so airy and light. Another fun way to brighten things up is to introduce a colorful rug.

Houzz

I found a few fun rugs on-line. All of which are under $200 with most being under $100. They all measure 5 x 7 (ish) so other sizes may vary in price. I hope you see something you like!

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By the way, this is not a sponsored post. Just fun finds that I enjoy sharing with others.

DIY Raised Vegetable Garden

2013-04-16T07:44:00.000-04:00

As promised, here are the garden details...

This garden may be small, but it will be more than enough for our family plus enough to share. It really doesn't take much space to grow fresh food and I'm so glad we took the time to make this happen. Gardening is so rewarding, especially when you grow your own food. This fall we plan to add brackets and pvc pipes for creating a removable cold frame. We want this garden to be active as many months out of the year as possible. I'll be sure to share those plans when the time comes. By the way, the stacked pots in the back left hand corner are filled with herbs - another great space saver.

There are so many tutorials out the there for raised beds. We read a few and decided to come up with our own plan to fit our space. The 12' boards were cut in half at the hardware store just so they would fit in the car to come home with us. We pieced them together with scraps from other boards. Basically everything is secured at the corners by screwing the boards into the posts. The posts are hammered into the ground to secure the bed in place.

Whenever I have gardening related questions, I pull out Dad's old gardening bible, "Crocket's Victory Garden". Have any of you heard of it? It was published in the 70's long before the internet was available. There is something nice about looking at a book rather than google searching sometimes. Dad always planted the most beautiful vegetable gardens. It makes me feel a little closer to him when I refer to his book and the simple gardening techniques are so easy to follow. I prepared the recommended soil formula of equal parts peat moss, sand, and topsoil. We also added cow manure as well as organic vegetable fertilizer. I tilled it all together to mix it well.

1 - green beans

2 - cucumbers

3 - various peppers

4 - various tomatoes

5 - broccoli

6 - cauliflower

7 - brussels sprouts

8 - buttercrisp lettuce

9 red leaf lettuce

In order to get the best use of space, we planted the green beans (seed) in the back along with cucumbers (seed) which can climb if trained early. Cucumbers can be really invasive, so we need to check them each day to make sure they are moving in the right direction. Everything else is self explanatory.

Now all we have to do is watch it grow...

We Have a Garden!

2013-04-15T07:28:00.000-04:00

In between sporting events, Mr. & I were able to build a raised vegetable garden over the weekend. Everything has been planted and marked and we are so excited to watch it grow!

In order to ensure that the bed receives 6 hours of full sun, we had to do some rearranging. Not easy if you have cracked ribs (soccer injury). We moved our potting bench to the right side of the gate and which gave us a 4 x 12 space - perfect for us.

This is what it looks like now. I'll be back tomorrow with the details.

Friday Link Love

2013-04-12T08:57:00.000-04:00

Happy Friday ya'll! Well, I managed to muddle my way through a very fast paced "back to reality" week. Thankful it's now Friday!!! What's on your agenda? I've been playing catch up reading a few blogs here and there. My link love this week is full of lovely and talented inspiration. I hope you enjoy it and see something new to you.

1. DIY Criss Cross Outdoor Planters

Planters like this normally cost a pretty penny. Learn how Centsational Girl made her own. She is the DIY maven if there ever was one!

2. {Dining Room}, We Have Drapes People!

I've been observing Cassie and her ups & downs with sewing machines. Her posts always, always crack me up. So this one was no different. I'm so proud of her for sticking with this project that she probably wanted to just toss out the window. (Sewing projects can bring tears you know). Look how great her new curtains look!

3. Favorite Room Feature: Raiana Scwenker Design

This favorite room was featured on Sadie & Stella. I have looked at it so many times that I should be a little embarrassed. Really, everything is perfect. Classic & timeless with equal parts modern & glam. Love it!

4. Loft & Cottage BHG Feature

Any time a blogging friend gets featured in a big magazine I get so excited! While on vacation I finally had the chance to read my April BHG and wow I was so proud of Casey! Did you see the guest room? I remember when she shared it with us a while back, but it was great seeing more of the details in the magazine spread. Congrats Casey!

5. With gardening on the brain, this quote is perfect for the weekend and beyond. I do believe in tomorrow, do you?

6. The Ultimate Floral

I saw lots of floral skinny jeans in airports across America last week. Aren't they adorable?

7. Essie Marshmallow

This is my new (old) favorite color for summer. Gotta love a color that goes with everything and looks fresh.

8. Short Shorts

Black & white never go out of style. The necklace is to die for!

Happy weekend friends!